Leg Swelling and Fluid Buildup

Edema is where this track starts. my.clevelandclinic.org defines it in one sentence, and the rest of the track works from that definition.

Edema is swelling from fluid buildup inside your body, especially your legs, feet, hands or around an injury.

The guides below take the questions in order: triggers, lymph flow, treatment, then what happens if swelling stays. Four reference pages are worth opening alongside them. The pages at the Society for Vascular Surgery cover chronic venous insufficiency and lymphedema. MedlinePlus has an edema overview and patient instructions on compression stockings.

The guides, in reading order

1. Salt, Standing and Other Swelling Triggers comes first, because triggers are the easiest thing to check.
2. Lymphedema and Blocked Lymph Flow covers the lymph side of the question.
3. Treating Swelling at Its Source covers treatment.
4. Why Ongoing Swelling Should Not Be Ignored covers swelling that does not go away.

Have this ready before the first guide

Note where the swelling shows up, whether in the legs, feet, hands or around an injury, and what you were doing beforehand. Then open the triggers guide and read on from there.